Roy Hodgson would be sacked by England if he were foreign – Eriksson

Sven-Goran Eriksson talks with Wayne Rooney in a training session during the 2006 World Cup. Photograph: Martin Rickett/PA

Sven-Goran Eriksson believes Roy Hodgson would have been sacked by the FA by now if he was foreign. Talking to Telegraph Sport, the former England manager said Hodgson’s current squad is as good as the ‘golden generation’ of talent the Swede enjoyed during his 2001-06 reign.

“I know for sure, if that had been me, I would have been sacked at once,” Eriksson said. “If he were foreign, he would be sacked. I’m quite sure about that.

“I don’t know why the expectations are so low today. The expectations in the three tournaments I had the team was the final or semi-final – no other discussions. And when we reached the quarter-final, that was not good enough.

“Today, it seems to be very, very good if you would do this. I don’t think things have changed realistically. England has still a very, very good team. It’s not that the rest of the world is far, far ahead of England. It’s not like that.”

Asked whether the FA was right to stand by Hodgson, Eriksson, who is currently manager of the Chinese club Guangzhou R&F, said: “If they don’t want me back, keep Hodgson. He’s good. I would come back at once, of course. But that will not happen.”

The 66-year-old did question Hodgson’s handling of Wayne Rooney, however, who he backed to take the England captaincy should Steven Gerrard step down. “The best position for Rooney, in my opinion, is second striker. I said many years ago: ‘Don’t kill Rooney – you need him.’ I can still say the same thing – you still need him.”